Sindh Punjab Water Accord of 1945

Sindh Punjab Water Accord of 1945: A Broken Promise and Continued Exploitation of Sindh’s Rights

The Sindh Punjab Water Accord of 1945 is a historical agreement that recognized the natural and legal rights of Sindh, as a lower riparian province, over Indus river drainage system. Despite its clear provisions, the Indus river agreement has been consistently violated by Punjab, aided by corrupt federal officials, compromised water regulatory bodies, and self-serving politicians.

Since the creation of Pakistan, Punjab, with the help of PPP-led governments and corrupt officials, has looted Sindh’s assets. They have consistently violated the 1945 water accord, favoring Punjab’s interests and exploiting Sindh’s resources, leaving the people of Sindh helpless and ignored.

History of Sindh Punjab Water Accord of 1945

The Sindh Punjab Water accord of 1945 was signed on March 20, 1945, during British colonial rule, following persistent disputes between Sindh and Punjab over water rights. A Rao Commission was formed to assess the distribution of Indus water. It concluded that:

• Sindh had prior and natural rights over the water as a downstream region.
• Any new canals or water diversion schemes by Punjab must be consulted and approved by Sindh.
• Minimum water flows must be maintained to sustain the Indus water basin and Sindh’s agricultural needs.

Systematic Violations by Punjab

After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, the spirit of the Sindh Punjab Water Accord of 1945 was systematically disregarded. Punjab, as the upstream and politically dominant province, exploited its advantage with the help of treacherous Sindhi politicians, greedy PPP-led governments, and successive administrations.

These groups enabled the unilateral construction of link canals and diversion of river flows, undermining natural water distribution and continuously looting Sindh of its vital resources. Over decades, when Sindhis cry out for justice, their voices are crushed, while officials remain silent or engage in hidden deals, further perpetuating injustice and deepening Sindh’s plight with zero public accountability.

Today, the injustice endures. The PPP silently backs Punjab, which is actively constructing six new canals to irrigate Cholistan’s barren lands—actions that blatantly violate Sindh’s water rights. Despite widespread protests from Sindhi nationalists, stakeholders, and loyal Sindhis, these measures persist.

The PPP-led government, through hidden deals and silent complicity, continues to facilitate Punjab’s dominance, echoing historical breaches of the Sindh Punjab Water Accord of 1945. Even IRSA, tasked with protecting Sindh’s water rights through its certification process, remains compromised, further enabling the exploitation of Sindh’s vital resources for Punjab’s benefit.

Key violations of Sindh Punjab Water Accord of 1945 include:

• Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Panjnad Link Canals: These canals, drawing from the Indus, were constructed without Sindh’s consent.
• Thal Canal Project: Resisted for years by Sindhi nationalists, it was fast-tracked under the rule of Asif Ali Zardari, who, despite being from Sindh, allegedly betrayed provincial interests for political gain.
• Frequent tampering with water data by IRSA (Indus River System Authority) and the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), often under the influence of Punjab aligned bureaucrats.
• Non-release of water downstream Kotri Barrage, leading to massive sea intrusion, destruction of the Indus river plain, and the collapse of mangrove ecosystems.

The 1991 Water Accord: Another Disappointment

In 1991, under growing pressure, Pakistan’s provinces signed a new Water Apportionment Accord, which aimed to fairly divide the water resources among Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, despite its intent, the 1991 accord never fully resolved the injustices:

• Punjab continues to take more than its allocated share, especially during critical dry seasons.
• Sindh’s share is often curtailed, particularly during sowing periods.
• The provisions for real-time telemetry systems to monitor water flows have been deliberately sabotaged or mismanaged, allegedly by federal and provincial officials colluding with Punjab’s bureaucracy.

Betrayal by Sindh’s Own Leadership

Adding insult to injury, political figures from Sindh, especially those in the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), have been accused of selling out Sindh’s water rights for personal or political interests:

• Asif Ali Zardari, during his presidency, approved the completion of Thal Canal, despite years of resistance from Sindhi nationalists during General Musharraf’s era.
• PPP has been more interested in protests and rhetoric than taking firm legal or constitutional action in IRSA, the Council of Common Interests (CCI), or courts.

This has created a widespread belief in Sindh that its political leadership has betrayed the province, aligning with the centralized establishment instead of defending the rights of their people.

International Solidarity and Calls for Justice

In a resolution passed on March 14, 2025, the UNPO, along with its Sindh member, issued a stern warning about the destruction of the Indus Valley Civilization. The resolution demanded:

• No further construction of dams or canals on the Indus.
• Implementation of the Sindh Punjab Water accord of 1945 as the fairest solution.
• Decommissioning of the Thal Canal and assessment of the environmental restoration by decommissioning Mangla and Tarbela Dams.

The resolution reflects growing international concern over the environmental degradation and human rights violations caused by unjust water distribution in Pakistan.

Conclusion

The Sindh Punjab Water Accord of 1945 is not just a historical agreement—it is a moral and ecological obligation. For decades, Sindh has suffered due to the greed of upstream Punjab, the complicity of federal institutions, and the betrayal of its own leaders. Reviving the spirit of the 1945 accord

And ensuring just water distribution, and protecting the I

Indus River basin is essential—not only for Sindh’s survival but for Pakistan’s environmental sustainability and national unity.

Bottom-line

In response to the heavy protests against Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and the sitting President Zardari Asif Ali, the Sindh Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution opposing the construction of six new canals on the Indus River route. The resolution demands an immediate halt to the project until an agreement is reached to ensure Sindh’s water rights are fully protected.

Sindh’s stance highlights ongoing struggles for fair water distribution, citing violations of the Sindh Punjab Water Accord of 1945. This resolution is seen as a critical step in defending Sindh’s interests against federal actions backed by powerful political forces.